Workforce Development: Why Colleges and Economic Developers Are Stronger Together

Colleges and Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) share a common goal: building stronger communities through workforce readiness and economic vitality. Yet, in too many regions, colleges’ fundraising and workforce development efforts—and EDO strategies—operate independently.

This session makes the case for intentional collaboration between community colleges, their advancement teams, and economic development partners. When these groups align, the result is more impactful outreach to industry, greater philanthropic and public investment, and a clearer, more compelling case for support.

Joe April and Dr. John Rainone bring more than five decades of combined experience in community college leadership, workforce strategy, and fundraising. Drawing from real-world examples—Holyoke Community College’s $4M Kittredge Center, the creation of Mountain Gateway’s Workforce Solutions Center, and SUNY Schenectady’s “Rising Together” campaign—this session demonstrates how integrated strategies between colleges and EDOs can attract transformational resources and drive long-term impact.

Participants will learn how to:

• Coordinate outreach to business, donors, and economic development stakeholders for maximum return
• Build a unified case for support tied to regional workforce outcomes
• Use ROI-driven storytelling to attract industry and foundation investment
• Align internal college functions with external economic development goals
• When colleges and EDOs work as partners (not in parallel) communities thrive - let us show you how